Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi All,

I'm new to this site and new to Ball Pythons. I've had a corn for about six years now. My son and I really wanted to get a python and after some research picked up a young hatchling from the local pet store. Suppossedly it had eaten the week I picked it up but wasn't around to witness it.

It's been a month now and I've tried F/T, live fuzzy and a fresh killed one. I've tried feeding in a separate container as well as in his home. Nothing seems to work, no interest at all. She/he is showing signs of weight loss (very loose skin) and is becoming less active by the day. It's not looking so well right now and I'm wondering if having it force/assist fed is what I should do at this point. Or should I just be patient. It's getting very hard though at this point seeing as it's so young and tiny.

The temps and humidity seem fine according to everything I've read so I don't think there's a problem there. You never know though.

Thanks,

I would force feed at this point.My ball would not eat when i first got it and I fed It a live mouse.Do you know how to force feed?If not ask me.

i've heard alot about force feeding, i don't want to resort to this jus yet with my snake but am interested on how it's done...thanks

>>the local pet store. Suppossedly it had eaten the week I picked it up but wasn't around to witness it.

While there are quality pet stores, the vast majority I've been to, know very little about keeping BPs. I would assume this snake has not fed.

>>It's been a month now and I've tried F/T, live fuzzy and a fresh killed one. I've tried feeding in a separate container as well as in his home. Nothing seems to work, no interest at all.

How old is your snake? Sounds like a young one if trying to feed a fuzzy. How are you presenting the prey? Day? Night? Off tongs?

>>She/he is showing signs of weight loss (very loose skin) and

If loose skin, I would suspect this problem is older than one month.

>>is becoming less active by the day. It's not looking so well right now and I'm wondering if having it force/assist fed is what I should do at this point. Or should I just be patient.

Depending on the condition, I would not force-feed. In fact, I have a "standing position" on force feeding BPs - they eat on their own or they die. It's that simple, and so far, I have never had one die on me. I had one go 8 months before feeding, but he did feed on his own. Patience is your best ally.

>>The temps and humidity seem fine according to everything I've read so I don't think there's a problem there. You never know though.

What does his enclosure look like? Hopefully, it is small. A ten gallon tank (IMHO) is too large for a hatchling BP. They need to feel secure before they will feed.

Is the snake well hydrated? This could be the reason for the folds.
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Jay A. Martin

I've tried a F/T with tongs wiggling it along the ground an inch or two away from him. No interest at all. I've also tried a live fuzzy with the snake in a separate small container over night with no luck. Repeated the last method with a fresh killed fuzzy (died on the way home from pet store). I've also tried leaving a F/T outside of hide box.

My inclosure could be a problem. It's a standard 20gal tank. At the time the pet store said it would be a good size. Maybe not... The temp on the heated side is 85-90 degrees, thermostatically controlled and measured 1 inch from the floor. The cool side is 80 degrees. Humidity is 50%. I soaked the snake last night but have seen it with part of it's body in the water on it's own a couple of times.